Complete Control by The Clash Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Punk Rock Anthem of Rebellion
Lyrics
But we didn’t want it on the label
They said, “Fly to Amsterdam”
The people laughed, but the press went mad
Ooh-oh, someone’s really smart
Ooh-oh, complete control, yeah, that’s a laugh
On the last tour, my mates they couldn’t get in
I’d open up the back door but they’d get run out again
And at every hotel we was met by the law
Come for the party, come to make sure
Ooh-oh, have we done something wrong?
Ooh-oh, complete control, even over this song
You’re my guitar hero
They said we’d be artistically free
When we signed that bit of paper
They meant “Let’s make a lots of money
And worry about it later”
Ooh-oh, I’ll never understand
Ooh-oh, complete control, let me see your other hand
I don’t trust you, so why should you trust me?
Huh?
All over the news spread fast
They’re dirty, they’re filthy
They ain’t a-gonna last
This is Joe Public speaking (control)
I’m controlled in the body (C-O-N, control)
I’m controlled in the mind
This is the top rockers (control)
With your zone in the price you whore (C-O-N, control)
Come to me
Total, C-O-N, control
Total, (parent control) C-O-N, control
We’ve got the rock ‘n roll (C-O-N, control)
That means you
I kick it, I fight it, I gotta get up at it (C-O-N, control)
I gotta kick it
More than just a raucous punk rock anthem, The Clash’s ‘Complete Control’ is a scathing critique of the music industry and a declaration of artistic integrity. Released in 1977, this track captures a seminal moment in punk’s chronology, melding raw sound with unrelenting message.
Diving into the defiant lyrics of ‘Complete Control’, one discovers the seething undercurrents of a band at odds with their own handlers; the tension between commercial success and authentic expression laid bare in a blistering sonic manifesto.
The Clash Against the Machine: Punk’s Rallying Cry
Right from the opening lines, ‘Complete Control’ confronts the industry’s manipulation, symbolized by the band’s refusal to release ‘Remote Control’ as a single at their label’s behest. This wasn’t just about music; it was a fight for the soul of creativity against the corporate machine that looked to package it.
The song’s assault on the music business is a rallying cry for punks everywhere, asserting their refusal to be reduced to mere products. In the combustive energy of ‘Complete Control’, we hear the war-cry of a generation set on defying the prefabricated molds set out by industry giants.
The Mockery of Freedom: Dissecting the Illusion of Artistic Liberty
The sardonic tone of ‘Ooh-oh, someone’s really smart’ underlines the deception faced by the band, where promised ‘artistic freedom’ was a thinly veiled lure for profit. What was peddled as liberation was, in actuality, a ploy to entangle the artists in a web of financial exploitation.
The irony in the phrasing ‘They meant let’s make a lots of money’ exposes the bitter truth that the industry’s overtures of support were inherently self-serving, leading artists down a road of compromised ideals for commercial success.
Inside the Lyrics: Unearthing the Hidden Meaning
Beyond the façade of industry critique, ‘Complete Control’ is a narrative of personal struggle and dissent. ‘Have we done something wrong?’ embodies the existential questioning that arises when one’s principles are under siege by external forces.
As bassist Paul Simonon’s iconic line ‘You’re my guitar hero’ cuts through, there is a cynical play at how idolization in rock can be both hollow and commodifying, stripping the genuine connection between artists and their audience.
Memorable Lines That Hit Hard: Lyricism as a Weapon
‘I don’t trust you, so why should you trust me?’ lays bare the mutual distrust that festers between artists and industry execs. These memorable lines refuse to play nice or adhere to the standards of music commercialism, instead spitting a visceral truth that’s as compelling as it is confrontational.
This confessional moment stands as a declaration of self-preservation, asserting the right to question and combat the ulterior motives of those who pretend to serve the artist’s interests.
The Clash’s Legacy: Reverberating Through Punk’s Echo Chamber
‘Complete Control’s reverberations are felt far beyond the initial shockwaves it sent through the punk scene. It’s not just a song, but a testament to the enduring struggle for integrity in an industry often obsessed with image and profitability.
The Clash didn’t just write a song; they etched a manifesto into the annals of punk history, inspiring countless others to seize control of their art, their message, and ultimately, their destiny. The potency of ‘Complete Control’ is not just in its lyrical punch, but in how it helped lay the groundwork for a genre that still thrives on dissonance and dissent.
